The Ford Galaxie debuted in 1959 as a competitor to the Chevy Impala–introduced the year before in 1958.
The Galaxie cost you more, but it was light years away from a lower-end Custom model.
The Galaxie was the French language equivalent of galaxy, so it added a little astronomical flair to the newly named car, so here are five of the best versions.
Jerry Sutherland
The 1960 Galaxie was a great example of the exit Detroit took from the 1950s Space Age look. This exit was gradual because this Ford still looked like it could go into Mars orbit, but the ’60 Galaxie introduced some subtle touches like a clean front grille and less chrome.
The dental floss C-pillar was another clear difference between the ’59 and ’60 Ford Galaxies—it was a welcome sight. The rest of the car was perfect because the 1960 Galaxie shone at every angle.
Flash forward three years to the 1963 ½ Galaxie 500. The fastback roof debuted in early ’63—hence the ’63 ½ designation. The roof was a work of art because it did more than look good.
It put these cars on the map at NASCAR that year because it created air flow dynamics at 160 mph that its competitors could only dream about. They didn’t get big press at the time, but the ’63 Galaxies became a big piece of 60s car culture and one with the R-code 427 option is still worth mega-bucks at any auction in 2026.
The 1965 Ford Galaxie was another move ahead for the now legendary name. The grille introduced vertical headlights to celebrate the mid-60s and give the Galaxie a new look.
The car had a different face, but fortunately Ford kept the spectacular fastback roof. That may have been the second-best decision they made in the 60s next to the legendary Mustang. They don’t sell for massive money, but a ’65 Ford Galaxie will get you more attention on the road than a Toyota Corolla pumping out flames on the shoulder of a highway.
The 1967 Ford Galaxie was a refined version of the ’65 Galaxie because it retained the vertical headlight look but smoothed it out a little.
They were still big cars, but the ’67 Galaxie looked a little cleaner and, by extension, they looked faster. It was the perfect version for a ‘Summer of Love‘ Ford Galaxie, and it doesn’t get the respect from collectors—but that opens a door for the average buyer.
The 1970 Ford Galaxie was for the coolest 70s version of a Galaxie. The car had a fastback roofline on steroids to mark the debut of a new decade.
The Galaxie name was on its way out, and gone by 1974, but the name spanned over three decades and that was rare 50 years ago. The 1970 Ford had the great roofline, but it also had world class taillights. It was also the last year of a flat grille because the Galaxie would end with a beaked grille in ’74.
Galaxie—a name that spanned the universe.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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